--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, the first thing you got was…" description: "\"As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men. You set yourself up in the sandbox and go to war. Then you grow up watching John Wayne movies ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jamie-foxx-3100_war_as-a-kid-the-first-thing-you-got-was-you_57238.jpg" --- # As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men… ![“As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men. You set yourself up in the sandbox and go to war. Then you grow up watching John Wayne movies and then 'Top Gun' and 'A Soldier's Story.' You get into them because they [star] your favorite actors. It's the absolute thrill of how war's…” quote by Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jamie-foxx-3100_war_as-a-kid-the-first-thing-you-got-was-you_57238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jamie-foxx-3100_war_as-a-kid-the-first-thing-you-got-was-you_57238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/jamie-foxx-3100_war_as-a-kid-the-first-thing-you-got-was-you_57238.jpg) > “As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men. You set yourself up in the sandbox and go to war. Then you grow up watching John Wayne movies and then 'Top Gun' and 'A Soldier's Story.' You get into them because they \[star\] your favorite actors. It's the absolute thrill of how war's depicted. The thought of violence is intriguing to kids. War is fascinating to young men, and attractive.” [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how early exposure to militaristic media romanticizes war, making it alluring to children and shaping their perception of violence as exciting. **In simple terms:** War is glamorized for youth through media. Key Takeaway Early media influences can normalize fascination with conflict. Themes socialization media influence militarism youth culture psychology of violence Mood nostalgic critical reflective Type observation analysis cultural critique When to use this quote - childhood play, adolescent movie watching, enlistment decisions, peer discussions about action heroes, parental guidance on media Key Concepts media portrayal cultural narratives identity formation Practical Applications - educational programs on media literacy, counseling for veterans Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape attitudes toward violence? - What alternatives can counteract glorified war images? A Different Perspective Some argue that exposure to war narratives can also foster critical thinking about conflict and promote peace advocacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [John Wayne Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-wayne-movie/) [Top Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top-gun/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [But most good movies have a gun in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/but-most-good-movies-have-a-gun-in-them/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [The reason that war is such a fascinating subject for writers is because it's a revealer. 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Turner [Browse all 38,922 War quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a kid, the first thing you got was your military men. You set yourself up in the sandbox and go to war. Then you grow up watching John Wayne movies and then 'Top Gun' and 'A Soldier's Story.' You get into them because they [star] your favorite actors. It's the absolute thrill of how war's depicted. The thought of violence is intriguing to kids. 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